How do I show that the roof did not exist before I had it put on?

Are you depreciating a new roof for a rental activity or a self-employment activity?  If so, the Property Description should be New Roof.

Retain any record that you have with your tax return records should a tax authority have a question at a later time.  Such records may include photos, estimates and/or invoices.

In TurboTax Premium Online, follow these steps to report the new asset in a rental activity.

• Down the left side of the screen, click on Federal.
• Down the left side of the screen, click on Wages & income.
• Click the down arrow to the right of Rentals, Royalties, and Farm.
• Click to the right of Rental Properties and Royalties.
• At the screen Your 2024 rentals and royalties summary, select Edit or click the pencil icon.
• Click the pencil icon to the right of Rental property.
• Select Add an asset.  Select Done.
• At the screen Describe This Asset, select Rental Real Estate Property.  Select Continue.
• At the screen Tell Us a Little More, select Residential Rental Real Estate.  Select Continue.
• Enter the information for the new asset.
• Continue to answer the questions to establish the rental property asset and compute depreciation on the rental property asset.